Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQ ~ General Information

Who should I call if my child is experiencing a medical emergency?

Immediately call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.  Then contact us to advise your child’s pediatrician.  Be sure to provide as many specific facts as possible so that your pediatrician can better assist your child’s urgent medical needs.

What if my child needs urgent care but it's not necessarily an emergency?

You can take your child to:

Southbay Children’s After Hours Clinic 

800 Pollard Road, Suite B205

Los Gatos, CA

(408) 370.0110

For urgent medical problems, may I speak to my child's doctor by phone?

Feel free to contact our office anytime during office hours. Our knowledgeable nurses are experienced and trained to respond to your concerns.  If your child’s condition is more complicated and you need to speak directly with your child’s pediatrician, your call will be returned at their earliest opportunity.

Who should I call for an urgent medical problem when the office is closed?

     Call the office number at (408) 866-7830.  We have an answering service that will page your child’s pediatrician until 10 p.m.  Your pediatrician will typically return your call within 30 minutes. 

    Between 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., we have a pediatric advice nurse who is available to respond to your questions and will contact your child’s pediatrician if s/he determines there’s an emergency.

What are your office hours?

We are open:

Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 12 noon. 

Sundays: Closed

On three-day holiday weekends, we are open on Monday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.   

What holidays are Los Gatos Pediatrics closed?

We are closed on: 

New Year’s Day

July 4th

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

What should I do if I'm going to be late for an appointment?

Call our office at (408) 866-7830 to make sure that we will still be able to accommodate you. Patients who arrive more than 15 minutes late may be rescheduled.

Will I be charged if I miss an appointment without notifying the office?

There is no charge for missed appointments. If you  miss an appointment, our office will contact you to reschedule.

Do you accept walk-in or drop-in appointments?

All appointments must be scheduled.  This includes sick and emergency visits.  Sick visits can be scheduled for same-day care.  Please be sure to use the designated entrance and waiting room for your sick child.

How long will it take to get forms back that are requested for school, sports, camp, etc.?

Please allow for one business day to return your completed forms.  Of course, if there’s an emergency, please advise our staff.  If you would like it faxed to you, kindly provide a fax number at the time of your request.  Our fax number is: (408) 866-8103

FAQ ~ Pediatric Information

How does Los Gatos Pediatrics protect children from getting sick by contagious patients?

We have set up two waiting rooms with separate entrances.  The entrance on the left is for children who are sick; and the entrance on the right is for children who are not sick or contagious.

At what age should my child stop seeing a pediatrician as their primary medical provider?

There is no set age.  We are delighted to continue caring for patients who have reached adulthood.  The choice to change physicians is a personal decision and entirely up to you.  Women attaining the age of 21 are advised to begin seeing a gynecologist on a yearly basis.

What is the best treatment for a cold?

Usually a cold occurs due to a viral infection.  There are more than 250 viruses that can cause a cold!!!!  Fortunately most of them cause a very minor infection that can even go unnoticed at times.  Children, however, more than adults, often catch a cold with severe runny nose, stuffy nose and sometimes a fever.

Try a steam inhalation in the bathroom.  Run a hot shower until the bathroom fogs up with steam.  Have your child stay in the steamy bathroom for 3-4 minutes.  This will usually relieve the stuffiness.  Running a cool mist vaporizer in your child’s bedroom also helps.  Additionally, nasal saline 2-3 times a day can also provide relief.

What is the best treatment for a fever?

Fever is usually adequately treated with Acetaminophen.  Please refer to dosing chart. 

 

Fever with a cold starts almost immediately.  It usually resolves in 2-4 days.  If it lasts for more than 4 days, or starts 5-6 days after the cold symptoms appear, contact our office to be seen by your physician.

 

Between 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., we have a pediatric advice nurse who is available to respond to your questions and will contact your child’s pediatrician if s/he determines there’s an emergency.

What Is The Dosing For Fever Reducers?
What vaccines are due at the well exams?

All the physicians in the practice like to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines to vaccinate our patients. Please refer to the vaccine schedule document.

 

We will provide you with more information about each vaccine at the time of the visit.  Another great resource to look up vaccine preventable diseases and the respective vaccine is the Centers For Disease Control (CDC).

What is the schedule for immunizations?

The standard immunization schedule can be found by clicking here.

FAQ ~ Insurance Information

Is Los Gatos Pediatrics covered by medical insurance plans?

Yes.  We are covered by most major medical insurers such as:  Aetna PPO and HMO, Blue Cross PPO and HMO, Blue Shield PPO and HMO, Cigna PPO and HMO, Health NET PPO and HMO, United PPO and HMO, Santa Clara County Independent Physician’s Association (SCCIPA).

Do you accept public health plans?

Yes.  We accept some patients, on a case-by-case basis, who are on Medi-Cal, Blue Cross Medi-Cal, Blue Cross Health Families, Santa Clara Family Health Plan, and Valley Health Plan.

Do you use a billing service to bill insurance companies?

No, we do not use a billing service.  We bill insurance companies from our own office.  Monthly statements  are sent from our office for deductible and co-insurance charges.

FAQ ~ Tele-Health Pediatric Visits

What Is Tele-Health?

Tele-Health appointments are virtual pediatric visits via videoconferencing with your pediatrician at Los Gatos Pediatric. Your child can receive medical care, and medical prescriptions all from the comfort of your own home.

How Does Tele-Health Work?

When you call our office to request Tele-Health services, our receptionist will screen to make sure that Tele-Health services are appropriate for your child’s medical needs. If Tele-Health is appropriate, then an appointment will be set via videoconference.

We can use Zoom, Face Time and Doximity.

How should I prepare for my child's Tele-Health visit?
  • Make sure you are located in a place with good Wi-Fi reception so that you have the best video and audio connection with your pediatrician.
  • Run a test on your system prior to your visit.
  • Be on time for your appointment.
  • Provide as much information as possible regarding your child’s condition prior to the Tele-Health visit.
Is Tele-Health HIPPA-compliant?

HIPAA is a law that protects the privacy of your medical records and personal health information. Your telehealth interactions are also secure, and only authorized users can access your telehealth sessions.

How do I cancel my child's Tele-Health visit?

To cancel or change the time of the appointment, simply call our office. Please contact our office at least 2 hours to cancel.

 

 

Is Tele-Health right for my child?

For most routine situations, Tele-Health provides a quick, efficient and safe way to provide pediatric care.

 

In some situations, it will not be appropriate to use Tele-Health services to care for your child and we will request that you come to the office. For example, if your child is suffering from ear pain, we may not be able to make an accurate diagnosis without seeing the patient in-person.

 

In a medical emergency, however, Call 911, seek care at your local urgent care facility or hospital emergency department.